Worst Option for #9?

[Chicagofam]

I’m really alright with whatever way they choose. Don’t see a trade up happening. Getting a receiver, d-lineman or a tackle like alt or even trading down for more picks. Poles is in a good spot.

 

[playthrough2001]

 

[Heidenlarm]

Worst? You say.

After drafting Caleb @ 1

"With the ninth pick in the 2024 NFL draft the Chicago Bears select ...."

JJ McCarthy - Quarterback - Michigan

ESPN:

Mel Kiper: I have McCarthy as the #4 QB in this class and the #15 player overall. But with the premium on QB play in the modern passing game, this is a player you just can't pass up. It's the type of move winning teams make and the reason organizations like the Cardinals are always picking high in the draft year in and year out.

Meanwhile over at PFF:

Sam: I've been saying it for years, Quarterback is the most important position on the field. If you don't have a QB nothing else matters. It's so important and the value is so high that you should probably draft one every year. Just keep picking year after year until you hit on one because the payoff is so great when you do hit. But two in one draft and that high, that's bold. I like it, I like it alot.

Steve: Yeah, I'm with you on that Sam, but the model likes Bo Nix a little more here.

Yo mods. Can y'all make a Bears fanfiction sub forum?

 

[TL1961]

Watched a bit of that Penn State LT yesterday and consider me intrigued.

Caleb's HS teammate.

 

[greg23]

I don't see a really good argument for drafting anything but an edge defender at #9, nor do I see a good argument for trading down.

Turner/Verse/Latu are all pretty close with Turner having the advantage due to his age. They all play one of the most important positions in the game right now so you'd be playing with fire by trading down and possibly having to settle as a result. If you think one of those guys can be a difference maker at arguably the second most important position on the football field then you'd stupid to draft a 3rd string WR or possibly a second string LT instead.

That's my way of saying that, for me, almost any position other than DE is the worst case scenario.

Funny....I think any defensive player at 9 is the worst possible move (and typical for the Bears)

Odunze/Nabors/even alt ( if you can then trade Jones for a decent 2024 pick) or trade down......don't bother with feeling the need for defense at #9

 

[Runruffshod75]

I’ve stated all over the forum Odunze is the pick for me at 9 if he’s there. He’s the X that sends this offense over the top. The Bears have always defaulted to overloading the defense. Maybe they can grab Brandon Dorlus at 75. He’s played DT and Edge and would give them some flexibility on the D line in a similar fashion to Walker.

If they stay at 9 I hope the pick is Odunze too, and if he's not there then Bowers as a second choice. If neither are there it would be nice if they could move back just far enough to recoup a second round pick and still get a DE like Verse somewhere between 10 th 15.

I agree. If the Bears stand pat at 9 then Odunze is my top choice and is easily. Hell have a field day out there with Moore and Allen already here. Opposing defenses won't be able to bracket anyone and if they try they will pay.

 

[DavidH]

Jim Miller seriously said he thinks terrion Arnold should be an option because he thinks they need another cb.

Him and pat Kirwan also think they should take jayden daniels at 1 because Williams isn't ready to play. (I'm pretty sure this is because they were both mad he didn't do medical at the combine)

Jim Miller remains a fucking moron.

 

[Starion]

View attachment 36288

Please let's not overstate Braxton Jones's measurables. He has long arms and has good straight line speed, but beyond that he is pretty average to below average as you can see.

What's most important to note is his horrible vertical jump of 25.5" despite being lightweight at only 310lb. This is why he can't anchor well against a bull rush and needs constant help against powerful Edge rushers.

I'm not sure why so many think he is ok to protect the best QB prospect the Bears have ever had after watching the previous best one consistently running for his life

Good post, but somewhat limiting BJ's scores. Not sure where you see that he "needs constant help against powerful edge rushers" but okay. Braxton's 20 yard shuttle was a tenth faster (4.74) at his Pro Day, and the above leaves out his 3-cone where he was also above ave. Far more important to have that get-off and speed than jumping out of a pool. He was also the 4th best run blocker and 11th best overall LT per below. But yes, does need to up his 21st best pass blocking, which I believe he is capable with continued development and a 2nd pro-offseason training. Maybe quicker QB release times will help too?

Has Braxton Jones done enough to secure his job with the Chicago Bears?


That said, I'm glad this made me look into it deeper. Yes, Joe Alt does have even better measurables (except 1.25" shorter arms), so I stand corrected. Alt also has an amazing 9.91 RAS vs. Braxton's 8.44. Both are 2 points higher / well above average starting OL RAS scores.



If they draft Alt, I certainly won't be mad. He'd be a great addition for sure. Just don't see the position as a big NEED right now with Braxton as the 11th best LT who IMO should continue to develop & improve his pass blocking further. Not vs other positions where blue-chippers or an eventual top 10 player will offer a larger advantage disparity.

Glad the decision is not up to us though.

 

[dbldrew]

Trading #9 to get Fields back would be the worst

 

[TL1961]

Generally, speaking, if a man has been playing left tackle for a couple of years in the league, and you are using his shuttle stats from the combine to defend him, you’ve answered the question as to whether drafting a LT is a good move.

 

[hyatt151]

Where does this "draft need @ LT" narrative keep coming from!?? Alt, etc. seems tempting as a cheap plug & play, but is completely unnecessary per sources actually paying attention to Braxton Jones' progress. He graded middle of the league (teens) among starting LTs (and higher than Wright even), despite a neck issue (non-serious), and has elite measurables above any of the rookie prospects. He started off very raw, but has been more than serviceable despite, and remains on cheap a rookie contract for 2 more years.


Any of the top 3 WRs would be a great pickup IF one drops to #9. Chargers will need to trade down, but need a WR however. Deep WR class could net one in the 3rd (or 2nd if they trade down) otherwise, but not worth #9 if not a top 3 WR.

I'm predicting they select Fashanu at9

 

[pdxbearsfan]

Other than punter, LB, or random position that isn't worthy of being picked, I've been thinking that WR is actually the worst option for the #9 slot.

Unless it's Nabers or MHJ, I don't think Poles takes a WR because the Bears now have two receivers making $20M on the roster and both will be looking for contract extensions. In fact the Bears are currently #5 in the NFL spending $44M on receivers & #7 in spending on Tight Ends.

Also keep in mind that the #9 pick will be making about $4.6M this year as well and suddenly the Bears move up to the top 3 in spending. That's too much invested in receiving options.

Now that Caleb will be here to make the receivers better than ever, we should expect improvement from the likes of Tyler Scott and even... (cover your eyes) V-J-J as speedy deep threats and gadget players. With the draft being loaded at receiver the Bears can look to add another receiver prospect on day three that normally would have been taken earlier.

If Poles is smart he stands pat at receiver and looks to build the trenches with an elite prospect (Alt, Verse, Turner, Fashanu) or trades back for an extra day two pick.


View attachment 36279

Hard to argue with your logic.

 

[Nelly]

WR is, given the bears are set at Z and X by two capable WRs. The notion that you should take one at 9 because ‘Keenan Allen is 31 now and not a FA till 33 so you can’t depend on long term’ I can only assume comes from an undeveloped brain. If you take a WR at 9, exactly how is he going to see the field or get reps with 2 TE, RB, and 2 WRs playing? He’ll get called a bust after year 1 when he maybe can muster 300 yards receiving.

Guys who don’t fit the scheme, like NT type guy, or a 2 gap read/react 5tech would be useless unless the announcing of a change to a 3-4 is about to happen.

Right. #9 overall pick on a 3rd wide receiver and arguably the 4th option in the pass game behind Kmet. It'd be a gross misallocation of resources.

If Poles wants to take someone like Alt (doubtful he's available) or even another tackle he loves to replace Jones, that's fine, assuming he can line up a quick trade for Jones. I would imagine that a good, developing LT who's cost controlled for another 2 seasons could get a nice pick back in return. Or you know, just keep him and draft what position would deliver the most value to the roster as it currently sits by far: another edge rusher opposite Sweat.

 

[BaBaBlacksheep]

Right. #9 overall pick on a 3rd wide receiver and arguably the 4th option in the pass game behind Kmet. It'd be a gross misallocation of resources.

If Poles wants to take someone like Alt (doubtful he's available) or even another tackle he loves to replace Jones, that's fine, assuming he can line up a quick trade for Jones. I would imagine that a good, developing LT who's cost controlled for another 2 seasons could get a nice pick back in return. Or you know, just keep him and draft what position would deliver the most value to the roster as it currently sits by far: another edge rusher opposite Sweat.

Why would you trade Jones? Depth on the OL is something we’ve never had

 

[Nelly]

Why would you trade Jones? Depth on the OL is something we’ve never had

Good point. I just wonder how that would go, Brax being replaced even though he played pretty well, especially under the circumstances, expected to start from the jump as a 5th round rookie.

 

[TL1961]

Why would you trade Jones? Depth on the OL is something we’ve never had

Plus, they won’t get anything for him

 

[TL1961]

Good point. I just wonder how that would go, Brax being replaced even though he played pretty well, especially under the circumstances, expected to start from the jump as a 5th round rookie.

What do you mean “how would that go“

Braxton might not be happy about it but so what? We need depth and he would provide good depth. Players lose their jobs all the time.

 

[alswank87]

The 9 pick is going to be hard to screw up.

 

[BradyJay]

Trenches or trade back! Start the petition!!

 

[Nelly]

What do you mean “how would that go“

Braxton might not be happy about it but so what? We need depth and he would provide good depth. Players lose their jobs all the time.

It's easy to just say "sit down and shut up" but it's not that simple in reality. Braxton would have every right to be pretty upset. Dude's worked hard and played pretty well. If I were him, knowing I could start on plenty of teams in the NFL, I wouldn't like being sat on the bench. Who knows how that looks and what that becomes.

Plus, Poles has shown now with the Fields trade that he likes to do right by his guys. It now would be fully in-character for Poles to move Brax along and maybe spend a pick on a guy to back up the 9th overall pick. If Ryan Bates can get a 5th round pick then you'd have to think Brax can get at least a 3rd, maybe even a 2nd from a team looking to bolster their line and open up their first round pick to spent on another position instead.